Lock



Aug. 15, 1944. M. NUSBIAUM v LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1- Filed Sept: 19, 1941 Wm, We 3 m H. m. T R O .m

Patented Aug. 15, 194-4 UNITED STATESVPATENT OFFICE LOCK Mortimer Nusbaum, Akron, Ohio Application September 19, 1941, Serial No. 411,538

13 Claims. (01. 70-171) This invention relates to an improved lock structure of the keyless type and more particularly to an improved combination of a lock of this type with the operator employed to accomplish a desired result upon the working or reas applied to a locking closure cap, as used for motor vehicle fuel tanks, for example, it should be apparent that the invention, in its broader aspects, is equally applicable to other specific uses.

A more specific object of the invention is, however, the provision of an improved locking cap for motor vehicle fuel tanks and the like whereby a locking cap of the keyless type may be s'atisfactorily employed for such purposes. In this regard the invention seeks to provide a locking "cap of the keyless type which may be economically produced, which is rugged and trouble-free tive lock maze which may be utilized in the modified embodiment; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section through the outer cap of Figure 7 illustrating the manner in which the interlocking pin of the embodiment of Figure 6 is guided for slidable movement in the outer cap.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, reference numeral l0 designates a cylindrically shaped member which is adapted to fit within the neck of a fuel tank filling pipe, not shown. As is well understood in the art, such filling pipe is provided that its outer end or neck portion with an inwardly directed flange having diametrically disposed openings and cam surfaces progressing downwardly from the openings whereby a bayonet slot connection may be provided between the pipe and its closure cap. For this purpose member ID is provided with a pair of diametrically opposite outwardly projecting lugs l l which are adapted to enter the openings aforesaid and engage the cam surfaces to secure the cap to the pipe. Inclined surfaces 12 engage the uppermost inwardly curved surface of the filling pipe and pilot the cap to actual alignment therewith during application of the cap to the pipe.

in service and which obviates the disadvantages heretofore associated with caps of the general character involved.

The above and other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanying drawings wherein there is specifically disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse sectional view of a lock-' Figures 3, 4, and 5 are plan views of three lock tumblers used in the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of locking cap constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 7 is a bottom plan of the outer cap of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the inner member of the cap of Figure 6 and showing a representa- Member I0 is securely fastened by riveting or other suitable means to a disk l3 having a depressed oenter portion l4. A leather washer I5, spring pressed downwardly by an annular spring [6 bearing against the bottom surface of disk i3, is positioned above the member ID, being held in place by said member. Washer I5 is adapted to resiliently engage the end of the filling pipe to seal the same. An outer cap I! is mounted for free rotation on the disk [3 and for this purpose an inner cup shaped member l8 having an annular shoulder I9 is press fitted within the cap ll. Depending downwardly from shoulder I9 is a flange 20 and engaging the lower end of this flange, is a retainer 2| having an inwardly directed flange 22. The retainer 2| may be conveniently held in place by bending inwardly the lower edge 23 of the cylindrical portion of the cap ll. The outer edge portion of the disk [3 is freely received within the annular groove pro- .vided by shoulder I9 and flanges 20 and 22, and the assembly of these parts is such that the disk is free to rotate in said groove.

Secured centrally to inner cap member I8 is a disk 25 having a peripheral contour as shown in Figure 2. The contour includes a plurality of substantially equally circumferentially spaced notches 26, one of which is deepened at 21 and provided with a curved side 28 and a radically extending flat side 29. Intermediate two others of the notches 28 is a recess 30 of greater depth than any of the notches and the inner portion of the recess has its one side 3| extending substantially radially while its other side 32 diverges outwardly with respect to the side 3 I. The outer portion of the recess 30 has its sides 33 diverging outward.

Disk 25 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture 34 and having its one end received in this aperture and its other end riveted to disk I3 is a pin 35 carrying the tumblers 35, 31 and 38 of the lock. The tumblers are, in accordance with usual practice, spaced from each other by the washers 39 which have inwardly directed lugs to engage in a keyway 4|] in pin 35 to prevent rotation of the washers. Positioned in the depressed portion of disk I3 is a coil spring 4| which encircles the lower part of pin 35 to urge the tumblers into assembled relation with each other and with the disk 25. A washer 39 is positioned between the upper tumbler 36 and another is positioned between tumbler 38 and spring 4|.

, Referring now to Figures 3, 4 and 5, each of the two lower tumblers 31 and 38 is provided with aninwardly directed notch 42. The lower tumbler 38 is provided with one upwardly directed driving pin 43 while the middle tumbler 31 is provided with two upwardly extending driving pins 44 and two downwardly extending driving pins 45. In the illustrated representative embodiment, the driving pins are circumferentially spaced as shown for a purpose to be later described. Tumbler 33 is provided with a pripheral notch or recess 45 having an inclined side 41 and with an arcuately disposed slot 48. Rigidly attached to disk 25 is a downwardly extending driving pin 50 which, in the assembled position of the parts, projects downwardly through the slot 48 of the upper tumbler 36 and terminates just short of the upper surface of the middle tumbler 31. The lower end. of the pin 50 is positioned intermediate the driving pins 44 and will engage the latter pins to rotate the tumbler 31. Likewise driving pin 43 is positioned intermediate driving pins 45 and will be engaged thereby upon sufiicient and proper rotation of the tumbler 31.

Extending upwardly from disk I3 to one side of the disk 25 and tumblers is a pin 5| on which is p-ivotally mounted a dog 52 having an angularly disposed end to enter within the notches and/or recesses 25, 21, 35, 42 and 46. A spring 53 biases dog 52 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2., to maintain the operative end of the dog in pressure contact with the disk 25 and/or the tumblers. I

In considering the operation of the assembled apparatus described above, it should be apparent that rotation of the outer cap I! to the left, as viewed in Figure 2, will likewise rotate disk I3 and consequently member ID carrying lugs l by reason of the positive driving connection provided between the fiat surface 3| of the disk 25 and the fiat surface of the end of the dog 52. It should be understood that the inner cap I8 is tightly secured within the outer cap l1 by press fitting, welding or otherwise and, therefore, the inner member l8 together with its attached disk 25 always rotates along with the outer cap I 1. If we had assumed that the cap were in position on the filling pipe as explained above, this rotation would remove the cap from the same. If the assembly be now reapplied to the pipe, the lugs M will engage the under cams of the inturned flange of the filling pipe and, as the resistance to continued rotation of the member Ill increases, the dog 52 will be moved outwardly by reason of the inclined side surface 32 of the recess 30 of the disk 25. At this time rotation of disk |3 has stopped and continued rotation of the cap l1 and disk 25 will cause the outer periphery of the disk 25 to ride past the inwardly directed end of the dog 52 with the end of the dog riding in and out of the notches 23. Notches 25 are of insuflicient depth or are otherwise so designed that they will override the dog 52 thereby not providing any driving connection therebetween. However, as the successive notches reach the dog, there is a distinct jerk and audible click so that it is possible for the person operating th lock to readily determine either by feeling or hearing or both the exact extend the outer cap has been rotated with respect to the member l0 and this is true in either direction of rotation of the outer cap.

In applying the closure cap, therefore, the parts are originally sufficiently interconnected to enable the lugs to be positioned in their proper places and, in tightening, the dog 52 will be retracted as aforesaid and rotation of disk 25 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, relative to the dog may continue until the deepened notch 21 reaches the dog at which time the flat surface 29 will provide a positive driving connection between the disk 25 and dog 52. This connection will enable the closure assembly to be securely tightened on the filling pipe. It should be apparent that before the dog can reach its relative position shown in Figure 2-, the notches 42 and 46 of the lock tumblers must be aligned and the disalignment of the tumblers is effected during the rotation of disk 25 from the position shown in Figure 2 to its position when surface 29 engages dog 52 by means of a driving pin 58 depending from disk 25 and by means of interengagement of one or the other of the driving pins 45 with the driving pin 43. The disposition of the various driving pins 43, 44, and 45 is so chosen for each particular lock that the angular interval between surfaces 29 and 3| of disk 25 is sufficient to disalign the tumblers, including in some instances, the disturbing of the lower tumbler 38. Therefore, when surface 29 reaches dog 52, the assembly will be locked and it will be impossible to again remove the cap from the filling pipe or other article to which it may be attached unless the combination of the lock is known and effected. This is so because any disalignment of any of the tumblers bridges the surfaces 3| and 32 thereby preventing the dog from entering against driving surface 3|. When the assembly is in locked position, the end of the dog 52 simply rides in and out of the notches 26, down one of the surfaces 33, across the bridging surface provided by the periphery of one or more of the lock tumblers, and up the other of the surface 33. Cam surface 23 of notch 21 allows notch 21 to override dog 52 when disk 25 is being rotated in a counter-clockwise direction with respect to the dog, as viewed in Figure 2 To accomplish the proper sequence of movement of the tumblers of the lock, which look is of the permutation type, required to align the tumblers in the manner aforesaid, it is necessary that the starting point of the operator be fixed in relation to the disalignment group of tumblers and this is provided, in accordance with the illustrated embodiment of the invention, by inter-engagement of surface 29 with the dog 52.

Beginning at this point, the outer cap is rotated smooth rotation of the cap, the number of such I clicks or jerks is the first number of the combination of the look. This first rotation may align the bottom tumbler 38. The next number of the combination which is carried out by rotating the cap to the right may align the middle tumbler 31. The third number of the combination which is executed by again rotating the cap to the left aligns notch 46 of tumbler 36 with the dog 52. By reason of slot 48 recess 30 of disk 25 must necessarily go past dog 52 on the third number and, therefore, to finally effect the unlocking interlock between disk 25 and dog 52, the cap must be rotated one or more clicks or jerks to the right which action will be the fourth number of the combination. It should be noted that the diameter of the disk 25 is slightly larger than the it is impossible to feel out the lock since the dog is held away from the tumblers while the tumblers are being aligned.

In general, therefore, the operation of the assembly above described is as follows: The cap is applied in the conventional way but during such application and before the final desired degree of tightness is secured, relative movement of parts takes place which is operative to reset the permutation lock. The cap cannot rotate to the right past the stop 29 but is normally free to rotate indefinitely to the left. In so rotating to the left and in rotating to the right up to the stop 29, audible clicks or sensible jerks give an accurate indication of the extent of rotation and by starting with the cap rotated to the right as far as it will go, the combination of the look as represented by successive rotations in alternate directions in predetermined amounts and interlock between rotation to the left of the outer cap and the parts of the assembly engaging the filling pipe may be automatically effected to enable the cap to b removed from the pipe.

The above specifically described embodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only and not as limiting the invention to the particular structure or adaptation disclosed and while the invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with a motor vehicle fuel tank cap, it should be obvious that it may readily be applied to other uses as, for example, a door look. When so employed, the door knob itself would serve both as an operator to effect the combination of the lock and thereafter as the operator to operate the door latch.

An important advantage of the locking cap specifically described in the above embodiment is that no openings of any kind are required in the outer cap I? thereby eliminating an danger of moisture getting into the lock and freezing the same. In fact, the lock is operable regardless of the amount of snow or ice encased about thesame. The component parts of the lock are simple in design, economical to construct, and rugged and trouble-free in service. In assembling the article, pin 35 carrying the washers 39 and lock tumblers as well as the dog 52 may be assembled on the disk l3 and inserted in the cover I! carrying the inner member l8 and the disk 25. The parts may be most economically produced by the stamping method. Obviously many changes may be made in the design and construction of the article without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention which in its broader aspects contemplates a wide range of equivalents. For example, the permutation lock employed need not be of the tumbler type but may be of the maze type.

Referring to Figures 6 through 9, which illustrate a modified form of locking cap constructed according to the principles of the invention but which employs a maze type of lock, reference numeral indicates generally a body which may be either cast integrally or fabricated from component parts and which is provided with diametrically extending lugs Bl to engage the slots in the convention tank filling pipe and a spaced disk-like portion 62. The latter is provided on its upper face with a maze formed by projections 63 and outside the periphery of the projections are a number of circumfenertially spaced indenations 64. Intermediate the lugs BI is a gasket 65 which is adapted to be held in pressure engagement with the rolled top of the filling pipe by a spring 65 interposed between the gasket 65 and the disk 62.

Disk 62 is revolvably received in an outer cap 61 which is provided with a depending flange, as shown in Figure 6, and a centrally disposed downwardly extending pin 68 adapted to extend through a central bore in body 60. The projecting end of pin 68 is swaged over at 69 to hold the parts in assembled position. The outer peripheral area of the upper face of disk 62 is adapted to engage against an annular shoulder 10 of cap 61 and extending down through shoulder 18 is a spring-pressed dog H which is arranged to engage the indentations 64 to provide an audible click or a sensible jerk as the outer cap 61 is rotated relative to the body 69. Cap 61 is provided with a radially extending guideway 1| in which slides a block 12 having a downwardly extending pin or projection 13 received in the maze mentioned above. Suitable friction means, as the spring 14, is provided to maintain the block 12 in any position to which it may become moved by the directing surfacesrof the maze.

Referring to Figure 8 which shows a simply designed maze which may be used in the assembly of Figure 6, various relative locations of the pin or projection 13 are indicated in dotted lines and designated by reference letters A, B, C and D. The maze is so constructed that the pin 13, which is free to move radially inward and outward by reason of the guideway II, will always be directed to position A upon clockwise rotation of the cap 61, regardless of its starting position and when moved to position A, pin 13, through projection 63A, block 12 and guideway II, provides a positive interlock in a clockwise direction between the relatively movable body 61 and 60. This enables the body 60 to be tightly applied to the filling pipe and when so applied, the outer cap 61 may be freely revolved in a counter-clockwise direction indefinitely, the maze providing a continuous circuitous path for the pin 13. However, the maze is so constructed that as the proper angular distances in alternate directions are followed by pin 13 (by rotation in alternate directions of outer cap 61), the pin will be directed into position B where projection B3B will provide a positive interlock be tween the outer and inner members 61 and 60, respectively, for rotation in a counter-clockwise direction. This enables the body 60 to be retated counter-clockwise and be moved. from the filling pipe.

As is Well understood in the maze lock art, the mazes may be constructed in varying degrees of complexity, requiring different angular distances to be followed by the maze following pin and different numbers of reversals of movement to direct the pin to an interlocking position. The maze illustrated is elementary for clarity of description and starting with position A, in which position-the pin will put the cap on the filling pipe, counter-clockwise rotation of pin 13 by means of outer cap 6! will move the pin against projection 63E, which projection will move the pin radially inward. Continued counter-clockwise rotation moves the pin against the inner face of projection 63D which will move the pin further radially inward. As the rotation of cap 61 continues the pin 13 will engage the outer surface of projection 630 which engagement will move the pin outwardly to a predetermined radial position. This latter position will be accurately determined by the total angular counter-clockwise rotation of outer cap 61, as indicated by the number of clicks or jerks made by the indentations 64. When the proper angular distance is reached, rotation of cap 61 is reversed and pin 13 moves along the outer surface of projection 63D to position D. The cap W is then rotated again counter-clockwise to move pin 13 to position B where the cap may be removed entirely from the filling pipe, as explained above.

It should be apparent that the above construction provides a simple and rugged lock for the purposes indicated. The maze is so constructed that the outer cap is always operative to tighten body Bil onto the filling pipe but is normally free to freewheel in the opposite direction unless it is manipulated in accordance with the predetermined combination of the lock in alternate directions and predetermined extents. As in the first described embodiment, when the 'parts are in on position, the outer cap is in proper relative position to begin the permutations of the lock. By placing interlock positions A and B adjacent the periphery of disk 62, the torque loading on the pin is reduced to a minimum and the durability of the assembly is thus increased.

In view of the many and substantial changes which may be made in the disclosed embodiments within the contemplation of the invention, reference should be had tothe appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange to provide a hand grip portion and means to prevent access to the space within said body when the cap is applied to the fuel tank and the like, a pair or radially extending arms rotatably carried by said body member to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe of said tank and the like, and means to interlock said body and said arms whereby said body and arms will move in unison comprising a permutation lock and an interlocking member movable upon the combination of said lock being effected, and a manually engageable operator for said lock.

2. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange, an inner member rotatably connected to said body member and carrying a pair of radially extending arms to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe of said tank and the like, means to interlock said members whereby rotation of one will result in rotation of the other comprising a permutation lock and an interlocking member movable upon the combination of said lock being effected, and manually rotatable means to effect said combination.

3. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange, an inner member rotatably connected to said body member and carrying a pair of radially extending lugs to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe of said tank and the like, means to interlock said members whereby continued rotation of said body member in one direction will always result in the rotation of the other member in the same direction, said body member being normally freely rotatable in the other direction relative to said lug carrying member, and means to interlock said members whereby rotation. of the body member in said other direction will result in the rotation of the second mentioned member in the same said other direction comprising a permutation lock and an interlocking member movable upon the combination of said lock being eifected.

4. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange, an inner member rotatably connected to said body member and carrying a pair of radially extending lugs to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe of said tank and the like, means to interlock said members whereby continued rotation of said body member in one direction will always result in rotation of said other member in the same direction, said body member being normally freely rotatable in the other direction with respect to said inner member, and means to interlock said members whereby rotation of said body member in said other direction will result in rotation of said inner member comprising a permutation lock and an interlocking member movable upon the combination of said lock being effected, the combination of said lock being operable upon rotation of said body member in alternate directions.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 further including means operable upon relative rotation between said first and second mentioned members to give a sensible indication of the extent of such relative rotation.

6. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising a body member having a depending peripheral flange, an inner member rotatably connected to said body member and carrying a pair of radially extending lugs to engage an inturned cammed flange on the filling pipe of said tank and the like, a disk secured to one of said members and having two recesses of difierent depths in its outer periphery, a dog mounted on the other of said members and adapted to be resiliently urged into engagement with the periphery of the disk, permutation lock tumblers associated with said disk and normally operative to prevent said dog from entering the deeper of said recesses, means responsive to movement of said body member in alternate directions with respect to said inner member to align said tumblers and permit said dog to enter within said deeper recess, said deeper recess and dog providing an interlock in one direction between said body and inner members, the other of said recesses providing an interlock between said body member and inner member for rotation in the other direction.

7. A closure cap of the locking type comprising in combination a member, an outer cap rotatably mounted on said member, said member carrying a device for securing the member to a fuel tank filling pipe and the like, and means to interlock said member and cap whereby rotation of the latter in one direction will result in rotation of the former comprising a permutation lock and an interlocking member operable upon the combination of said lock being effected, and means comprising said interlocking member to provide a second interlock whereby rotation of the cap in the other direction will result in rotation of the first mentioned member.

8. Apparatus according to claim '7 further characterized in that said permutation lock is operated by relative rotation between said first mentioned member and cap from a starting point represented by said second mentioned interlock.

9. A closure cap for a fuel tank and the like comprising an outer member having a depending peripheral flange to provide a hand grip portion and means to prevent access to a space within said member when the closure cap is applied to the fuel tank and the like, an inner member rotatably mounted within said flange and having means to engage the fuel tank to secure the cap to the tank, a lock maze carried by one of said members, and a lock maze follower carried by the other of said members, said maze being so constructed that continued rotation of the outer member relative to said inner member will provide a positive interlock for concurrent rotation of both said members in the said one direction while co-ordinated alternate rotations of said outer member relative to said inner member will provide a positive interlock for concurrent rotation of both said members in the oppostie direction.

10. A device according to claim 9 further characterized in that said follower is free to move radially with respect to its carrying member but is restricted in its circumferential movement relative thereto.

11. A device according to claim 9 further characterized in that said inner member includes a disk-like portion adapted to be received in said flange, said maze being positioned on the upper face of said disk-like portion.

12. Looking apparatus comprising in combination a locking element adapted to be rotated, an operating member having rotatable connection with said locking element, said element and member being adapted to be rotated relative to a fixed coacting member and relative to each other about coincident axes, and means comprising a permutation lock interconnecting said element and rotatable member, the combination of said permutation lock being adapted to be effected by relative rotation between said element and said rotatable member and being operative when effected to establish a driving interconnection between said rotatable member and said element whereby rotation of said rotatable member in one direction results in rotation of said element in the same direction.

13. Looking apparatus comprising in combination a rotatable member, a locking element con nected with said member and adapted to be moved out of locking position upon rotation of said member in one direction, a second member having rotatable connection with said first mentioned member and adapted to drive the latter in said one direction upon the establishment of an interlock between said members; and means to establish an interlock between said members comprising a maze secured to one of said members and having a maze path end providing a coacting element of said interlock, and a, maze following pin carried by the other of said elements and having radial freedom of movement but restricted circumferential movement with respect thereto providing the other coacting element of said interlock whereby upon completion of a predetermined pattern of relative movement between said members said interlock becomes established thereby enabling said second mentioned member to forcibly drive said first MORTIMER NUSBAUM. 

